Variable cam for fertilizer distributors and the like



4 1927. 1,613,178 Jan E. c. LITCHFIELD ET AL VARIABLE CAM FOR FERTILIZERDISTRIBUTORS AND THE LIKE Original Filed May 1924 IN VEN TORS 5. C M Wa, 5 M

A TTORNE YS.

Patented Jan. 4, 1927.

UHTED STATES PATENT orrics.

EDGAR o. LI'ICHFIELD AnnvIo'roR srnnn, or CEDAR FALLS, IOWA, AnncLARnNcn o. HERMANN, or MOLINE, rumors, assrenons ronnnnr L.LITCI-IFIELD, or A,- TEnLoo, IOWA, AND EDGAR'C. LITCI-IFIELD, or CEDARFALLS, IOWA,

VARIABLE CAM FOR FERTILIZER DISTRIBUTORS AND THE LIKE.

Original application filed May 31, 1924, Serial No. 716;91- 2. Dividedand: this application filed- December 10, 1925. Serial No. 74,658.

A common type of manure spreader is one Figure 1 is a side. elevationof. the actuatin which the contents rest upon an endless ing cam fortheapron, ofa fertilizer dis.- apron in the bottom of the spreader body,tributor, having applied thereto a plurality 53 the apron being slowlyfed, step by step to of the improved filler blocks Fig. 2 is. a

carry the contents to the discharge point at section taken approximatelyon line 2, 2a of the rear. The feeding of the apron is effect- Fig. 1Fig. 3' is, a side view of one of the. ed by a pawl and ratchetmechanism, the blocks detached from thecanr; and Fig t is pawl beingactuated by a cam on one of the a perspective view. of one.- of theclamping. 60 rear axles of the spreader. Byv providing a plates by meansof whichtzhe blocks are fast-.7

spreader of this type with a few simple atened to the cam,

tachments it can be adapted to distribute Referringjto the drawing, 1represents, a limerock or other mineral fertilizers. l-Iowcam adaptedto, be fastened to t suitable ever, the minimum rate of feed of theconshaft or axle, thecain being shown as having 65 tents toward therear, which is produced by four projections 2, spaced 90, degrees apartthe operating mechanism for the apron of from each other so as to. form,four high the manure spreader, is too rapid when dispoints, fourvalleys, as indicated atn3. tributing some kinds of mineral fertilizersThe cam conveniently consists of a hub 4 under certain conditions.surrounded by a web 5 that has a widened rib 70 The object of thepresent invention is to or flange 6 following the periphery thereof.

produce a simple and novel device which The attachments for the camconsist of a may easily be applied to the feeding mechaplurality ofblocks 7 each adapted to be set nism for the apron of a manure spreaderand in one of the valleys and having an outer secure a considerableaddition to the range face such that if blocks are set in all of the 75of feed. valleys the cam will be transformed into a The actuating cam inthe spreader to device having a circular periphery. Each which ourinvention relates is one having a block has a lug 8 projectingdownwardly plurality of points, regularly spaced along from one side atabout the middle; the lug an angular distance of 360 degrees. In acbeingprovided on what may be termed the cordance with the present invention,a pluinner side with a groove 9 to receive one rality of filling blocks,easily applied or reedge of the flange 6 that extends around the moved,are provided for attachment to the cam, when the block is set in one ofthe cam so as to permit the user to fill one or valleys. In order tohold the block in place,

more of the valleys in the cam and thus rean L-shaped clamping plate 10is placed duce the number of effective high points. against the blockand the cam on the oppo- Therefore, considered in one of its aspects,site side of the cam from that on which the the present invention may besaid to have lug 8 lies; and a bolt 11 is passed through for its objectto produce asimple and novel the clamping plate and the web portion ofattachment for a multiple-point cam to vary the block so as to clamp theflange or rim the number of effective high points on' the of the cambetween the lug on the block and cam. the clamping plate.

The present invention is disclosed in our If the lifting action of thecam is to be prior application Serial No. 716,912, filed reduced byone-fourth, namely if the lever May 31, 1924:, of which the presentapplie or pawl to be operated by the cam is to be 95 cation is adivision. raised only three times during each revolu- The variousfeatures of novelty whereby tion of the cam, a single block is attachedto our invention is characterized will hereinthe cam. If the action isto be slowed down after be pointed out with particularity in the stillmore, a second block may be added. claims; but, for a full understandingof our Similarly, the addition of a third block will invention and ofits objects and advantages, transform the cam into one having only areference may be had to the following desingle high point and a singlevalley.

tailed description taken in connection with The attachments are cheapand simple the accompanying drawing, wherein: and can be easily appliedtothe cam and again removed therefrom, so that the owner of a manurespreader employing an actuating cam of the type illustrated, can reducethe minimum rate of feed of the fertilizer toward the dischar e point byone-fourth, one-half, or three-rourths, with very little effort and at avery small expense.

While we have illustrated and described with particularity only a singlepreferred form of our invention, we do not desire to be limited to theexact structural details thus illustrated and described; but intend tocover all forms and arrangements which come within the definitions ofour invention constituting the appended claims.

lVe claim 1. The combination with the multiplepoint apron-actuating camof a fertilizer distributor having a peripheral cam face composed ofprojections alternating with valleys of filler blocks adapted to bedetachably secured in the valleys of the cam to vary the contour of thesame.

2. The combination with a cam having a peripheral cam face comprisingprojections alternating with valleys, of a filler block adapted to bedetachably secured to the cam in one of the valleys.

3. The combination with a cam having a peripheral cam face comprisingprojections alternating with valleys, the projections being uniformlyspaced about a central point, and tiller blocl-zs each adapted tobedetachably secured in one of the valleys.

4-. The combination with a cam having a peripheral cam face comprisingprojections alternating with valleys, the projections being uniformlyspaced about a central point, and filler blocks each adapted to bedetachably secured in one of the valleys, the filler blocks havingperipheries that are arcs of a circle whose center is the said centralpoint.

5. The combination with a cam having peripheral projections and valleys,a filler block adapted to be seated in one of the valleys, a lugon theblock adapted to bear against a side of the cam, a clamping plateadapted to engage with the opposite side oi. the cam and with saidblock, and a belt adapted to pass through said plate and the block. 7

In testimony whereof, we sign this specification.

nnenn e. mronrinm). vroron CLARENCE C. HERMANN.

